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When some pastors want to extend the reach of their ministries beyond the pulpit, they write books -- often self-published.

Two such clergymen are soon to make public appearances in Southwest Virginia, both plugging books they paid to get into print.

The Rev. Harold Cox, pastor of First Pentecostal Holiness Church in Eden, N.C., is scheduled to sign his first book, "Revelation for the Layman," at Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Christiansburg from 1 to 3 p.m. June 7.

"It's my first book, and I did a lot of researching the Scriptures for it," said Cox, who said his book examines Revelation's prophecies about the end of days.

Cox said he paid $3,500 to Tate Publishing in Oklahoma City as his share of the costs to print the book. "Tate invested about $16,000" in printing, distributing and promoting the book, he said.

About 250 copies of "Revelation for the Layman" have been sold so far, he said, meaning the book has garnered about $5,000.

The Rev. Darren Maracin is using a visit as a guest evangelist at Roanoke's Church Alive International at 7 p.m. June 18 to promote his book "Conquering Giants in Modern Times."

Maracin is the pastor at Church on the Move Outreach Center in Kalamazoo, Mich. A flier about his book states that it will "help believers in Christ to biblically identify, expose and overcome three major areas which Satan uses as strongholds to rob" people of their "destiny in Christ."

Maracin's promotion touts the book's publisher, Xulon Press in Longwood, Fla., as the "world's largest Christian publisher."

The Xulon Web site states the fees for publishing a would-be author's book start at $999.

In an e-mail answering questions from The Roanoke Times, Maracin said that he's beginning a second book. "It would be wonderful to be picked up by a royalty publishing house." He added, "Nevertheless, I have worked diligently to get the word out about my book, and that is the nature of being self-published. Hopefully it won't be that way in the future."

But to attract a publisher willing to pay for the rights to a book -- and not require the author to put up money for its printing and distribution -- Maracin said, pastors usually must have a national following that reaches several hundred thousand people.

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For Greg John, administrator at Calvary Memorial Baptist Church, there will be a little bit of nostalgia in the special worship music program at 7 p.m. June 19. The visiting 10-member vocal ensemble that night, called Majesty, consists of students from Masters College in Santa Clarita, Calif.

John is a Masters alumnus, class of 1993, with a bachelor's degree in accounting.

The concert will be held in Calvary Memorial's sanctuary. There is no charge and John said he doesn't anticipate that the congregation will be asked to make an offering. For more information, call John at 342-7489.

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This column recently asked readers whether they had fresh fundraising ideas and whether any of you are tired of the traditional walk-a-thons, bake sales and carnivals.

Well, while charity golf tournaments are hardly new, Greene Memorial United Methodist Church has scheduled its first one on Friday at Ashley Plantation Country Club in Botetourt County.

Proceeds will fund a mission trip to the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana.

Registration could be full by the time this item appears, but to see if there are any openings for individuals, $70, or for teams, $280, call Tim Craft at 977-4212.

You're encouraged to comment about religion-related issues on roanoke.com's blog version of this column, "Focus on Faith."